North Penn ground game powers way to a win over CB East
BUCKINGHAM >> Whatever struggles the North Penn defense had on Saturday, the offense more than made up for.
“We were just talking about that this morning, looking to play a complete game,” said running back Khalani Eaton. “We were looking to play a game with offense and defense, so we’re still working on that. Today was kind of an offensive game.
“It’s a work in progress and we’ll get better at it.”
Eaton scored four touchdowns to lead the Knights to a 49-25 victory over Central Bucks East Saturday in a Suburban One League Continental clash.
Eaton piled up 191 yards as the Knights improved to 4-1 overall and stayed unbeaten in the conference at 2-0.
“The offensive line had a really good game, picking up blocks and blitzes,” said Eaton.
Eaton’s final TD, a one-yard plunge, extended North Penn’s lead to 35-17 in the third quarter, providing the Knights their biggest lead to that point.
“He’s a thumper. He’s really impressive,” Patriots coach John Donnelly said of Eaton. “He’s got a number of guys who can lead block for him. We didn’t cut the engine on him very well today.”
Touchdown runs by R.J. Macnamara (eight, 37) along with a 38-yard scoring dash by Kenneth Grandy locked the game up for the Knights in the second half. North Penn scored touchdowns on four of its five possessions after the intermission.
Fast Start
North Penn led 21-17 at the end of a back-and-forth first half.
The Patriots scored less than two minutes in, as quarterback Anthony Giordano broke away 50 yards for a touchdown, shedding multiple tackles along the way.
North Penn answered right back.
The Knights used a 10-play drive to move it 59 yards, reaching the end zone when Eaton burst in from two yards out to deadlock things at seven apiece.
North Penn went up for the first time on its next drive.
The Knights marched 73 yards in four plays, the biggest chunk courtesy of a Matt Chernuka-to-Kenneth Grandy connection for 45. Eaton finished things again, scoring from nine yards out to make it 14-7.
Back came East.
The Patriots tied it again when Giordano threw to a wide open Will Silverman, making it a 14-14 draw early in the second quarter.
North Penn used another sustained drive, moving 62 yards in nine plays, with Eaton scoring for the third time, his one-yard burst giving NP a 21-14 lead on the road.
East sliced it to 21-17 at the half, as a 38-yard field goal by Michael Smigley split the uprights.
Pass-minded East (3-2, 0-1 conference) racked up 232 yards through the air, with Silverman hauling in his second score (60) after the break.
